The Bible teaches that our eternal home will be a place we’ve already been—earth. It will be a New Earth, a transformed earth.

I’m not familiar with that as a Mormon belief. However, I have had upset people tell me “But Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in the New Earth.” 

The New Testament reflects much more specific revelation from God of the afterlife. Yet there are some strong Old Testament indicators, though not nearly as many.

Part of what we need to ask ourselves is why we would assume that we would not do many of the same things.

If I had only Scripture to judge by I would assume it is a young Earth. If I had only science to judge by I would assume it is an old Earth. 

When we die we go to be with Christ (II Cor. 5:8) which is wonderful. But we are still incomplete, in a pre-resurrected state, anticipating Christ's return to earth, and our resurrections. The place we'll live forever will be where God comes down to dwell with us, on the New Earth (Revelation 21:1-3).

Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.” The entire creation declares what God is like. That includes animals.

With the deaths of several celebrities on the forefront of people's minds, I want to focus this week's question and answer on Heaven. 

In light of my blog post some time ago with the Christian the lion video, our friend Diane Meyer sent us the following. It’s a somewhat similar story. But please, if you haven’t watched the lion video, do that first. Without it, you will not appreciate why Diane sent this one.